Method of handling filler tobacco for cigar machines



June 26, 1945. R. E. RUNDELL METHOD OF HANDLING FILLER TOBACCO FOR CIGARMACHINES Filed Nov. 6, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l RUPERT E.RUNDELL.

TTORNEY June' 26, 1945. RE. :RU N DELL 2,378,953

METHOD OF HANDLING FILLER'i'OBACCO FOR CIGAR MACHINES Filed Nov. 6, 19433 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I I RUPERT E. RUN DELL June 26, 1945.2,378,953.

METHOD OF HANDLING FILLER TOBACCO FOR CIGAR MACHINES R. E. RUNDELL FiledNQv. 6, 1943 4 E i i Q w N\ k m w NW ww w h m 99 w mfl {W}1.n\-h\\\|\\\-\\\\Pnm|\P\. n n HG NFM INN IIIIMPIIIIFHII v Ewqww fin oJQN m %N RUPERT BRUNDELL I BWW ATTORNEY Patented June 26, 1945 l U ITEDSTATES 'PIATEN METHOD OF "2,378,953 r 1 HANDLING FILLER TOBACCO l TOFFICE .FOE CIGAR MACHINES Rupert E. Rundell, Rockville Centre, N. Y.,assign- .or to International Cigar Machinery a corporation of New Jersey Company,

r Application November 6,1943,ScrialNo.509,1 59

zoclairns. o1.i31;149)

This invention relates to tobacco handling and preparation, and moreparticularly' to an im lowered to a predetermined point. After,oonditioning the screens are removedto'a storage chamber where thestrips are dumped indiscriminately into storage bins in pilesextendingfrom the floor to the ceiling and kept in this condtion for severalweeks. When the time comesto use the stored. tobacco, the piled uptobacco in the storage room is picked up by hand and placed on a tableor belt for packing into cans to be transferred to the cigar makingfloor, It is evident that tobacco handled in this 'or any similar manneris subjected todirt and insanitary treatment, i

and may be broken up considerably. The tobacco reaches the, cigar maker,or machine in disorderly condition, and each leaf must be lifted from vthe can and placed manually on a feed belt forbunch making purposes.

Processes of f the type described hereinabove have made automaticfeedingof tobacco, such as longfiller, or mixtures of long and shortfiller, impracticable in the past because of the lack of a method whichallows such handling of filler tobacco that uniform prearrangedquantities can be made available for delivery to anfautomatic feed of acigar machine. I

According to the present invention, cleaned,

stripped tobacco leaves or strips, leaf portions or broken up leaves maybe laid automatically on screens or distributed thereon inlayers ofdesired thickness, width and length. so that from the outset there is auniformity ofdistribution of tobacco which is carried over throughouttheperformance of the process. Each screen with the requisite amount oftobacco laid orderly thereon may be stacked on a truck or other suitableconveying device, andspacers are utilized to separate one loaded screenfromanother so that air may pass through the screens, and in and aroundthe tobacco to reduce the moisture content to the desired condition. 1 l

. Upon completion of conditioning the loaded screens are moved to astorage chamber or chainbers depending upon the quantity of: tobaccoundergoing. preparation. The spacers are removed and the loaded screensare stacked one on top of another with each tobaccolayerstillundisturbed and in orderly formation thereon. Each layer of tobacco isseparated only by the netting of a screernso that as apractical mattereachlayer may be considered to be in direct contactwith' the layer aboveand below during the storage or maturing period. This arrangementassuresvery satisfactory maturing or marriage of the tobacco, and alsomaintains it freefrom' dirt and foreign matter.

In the marrying process, a, term used in the trade, an attempt is'madeto obtain uniformity throughout amass of tobacco being handled. Thecharacteristics of tobacco vary greatly, for instance, some leaves aresweet, some bitter. The association of layers in the manner describedmakes possible an averaging of the characteristics toproduce uniformity.In this way a manufacturer can maintain substantial uniformity of ablend inproducing a particular brand of cigar, cigarillo or the likeover a prolonged period of time.

The loaded screens remain undisturbedin the storage chamber from twot'othree weeks .or possibly longer.

riod, a plate or board of any suitable type is laid At the terminationof that peupon the tobaccoof each screen. Each'assembly of plate,tobacco layer L, and screen is held firmly together and inverted and.the layer of tobacco is transferred undisturbed upon the plate. Thescreen is removed, returned for reuse and the transferred tobacco layeris supported on (the plate. This procedure is followed until a column ofplates loaded with undisturbed layers of tobacco in substantiallyoriginal orderly'condition and arrangement is formed, or until all thetobacco or a mass being prepared has beenhandled in alike manner. Thenet resultis that when a plurality of layer loaded plates is removedfrom, the storage chamber andtransferred to the cigar making floor, eachlayer has been subjected to a matur ing or marrying process by contactwith adjacent layers during the storage period so thatin maturing, thechemical and physical processes involved during such storage "havecaused the tobacco to become fmarried ortend to become uniformin aroma,taste and flavor. At the same time the tobacco has been continuouslykept free,

fromany contamination because of dirt,mis-

upon a screen and readyfor automaticfecd to a.

provide an improved method of preparing and handling tobacco forautomatic feeding to a cigar machine or other type of machine formanufacturing smoking articles.

It is a further object of my invention toprovide an improved method offorming layers at .fille tobacco suitable for manufacture into cig arscigarillos or the like wherein each layer, from the time it is formed ismaintained in undisturbed layer formation free of contamination ormishandling, and wherein the tobacco is allowedv to: mature inaccordance with the requisites of filler tobacco as used intheciga-rrtrade.

It is a further objectgof my inventiorrto provid an improved method ofhandling cigar tobacco wherein stemmed" lea es'orwstripszare placed inorderly arrangement on screens. inlayers of uniform-Jthi'ckness; width.and length, moisture contntais. reduced to a predetermined point, thetobaccocstillciniorzderly layers stacked; oneon' the other is.matu'redffor a :period' oi time sufficient to allow marriage, orchemicaland physical processes take effect during the storageper'iod to obtainvuniformity in. aroma, :fiaivor and; taste after which the layers are sohandledas 'toall'ow the formation. of an assembly of layers torautomaticrieeding to cigar making instrumental-rues :It' is afurtherObject of -myinvvention tosproyide an improved; method-of,- fornling.cigars, and. more especially ilong :filler cigars. in which, layers. ofconditionedtobacco are prepared for automatic feeding'seriatim to a:cigarforming mechanism.

Itiis'a furtherrohiectjof my i-nventionto provide an, improved m thod offormingbl nded cigars and-m re esp cially'p eparingblends OfTIOD 'fi'Izer or mixtures ofqlong, and short-filler or-shortfiller tobacco forautomatic feeding to a cigar forming instrumentality.

My invention. also consists in the provision. of an wherein a successionof layers of tobacco are formed, conditioned.- and matured and duringsuch treatment blending tobacco is distributed uniformlyon. each 'layer.4

The invention is also characterized by the; provision of a-fnovelmethod-of blend-in -tobacco for formation into-smoking articles, such ascigars, by forming layers of filler; tobacco, and-distribi-iting in eachlayerin a zone bounded by at least one longitudinal edge, a limitedquantity of blendin tobacco, so that each bunch-charge cut from; a layerwill contain a substantially uniform quantity of blendin tobacco. v

The invention also consistsinthe formation of blended filler tobacco bymaking a layer of blended or -unblended filler tobacco or substantiallyuniform thickness and, regular width and thickness, and distributing alimited quantity of one or moresuperior blendingtobaccos in :a, zonebounded-by the major, axis ofthelayer and the long-itudinaledgeso thateach bunch chargecut from: the layer of- ;blended; filler-tobacco wil-1--contain a substantially uni-form- 'quantity of: the superior blendingtobacco. located in a predetermined position with reference to"theismoking article ultimately produced.

The invention"also-consistsin the provisi'on'of a novel blended fillertobacco layer suitable in forming improved blended bunch charges whereineach charge has associated therewith a limited quantity of a superiorblending tobacco at or near the end of the smoking article to belighted.

My invention also consistsin the provision of a novel method forconditioning tobacco including the formation, of layers of tobaccowherein various types and sizes of tobacco forming the filler may bearrangedin layers of any desired width, thickness, length andarrangement and wherein the, layer formation and arrangementmaintainedundisturbed during all subsequent handling, of tobacco from the timeeach layerisfo'rmed until delivered to a cigar machine,

during which time, one or more layers are subimproved method forblending tobacco 'jec'tedto a reduction in moisture content of thetobacco. and allowedto mature in orderly layer to layer contact for atime sufficient to allow naturalchei'nical and physical processes totake effect duringsuch storage: because of; the contact of: onelayerwith anotherin order'to obtain uniformity in-thefinal product.. i

Myinvention also consists in-the provision of a novel method forconditioning tobacco including the formation-of layers of tobaccowherein various: types andsizes of tobacco forming-the filler may bearranged in. layer of; any desired, width, thickness length and;arrangement and where n thelayer formation. and; arrangement ismaintained undisturbed during all subsequent handling oi? tobacco/fromthe time each layer is formed until delivered to a cigar machine, duringwmcnume one or more layersare subjected to a reduction, in moisturecontent of the tobacco and allowed to. mature in. orderly layer to layercon..- tact for a time sufficient to. allow natural chemicalLandphysical processes. tov take. effect during such storage, because ofthe contact of one layer With-another inorder to obtain; un'iformityinthe finalqpisoduct, and, wherein each layer of tobacco isrfedautoomatieall-y into. a cigar or other smok suitable way-of. spr adinstemmedand clean d filler tobacco on screens and the stacking of the ame.on. trucks Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of a suitable tobaccodrying chamber illustrating the drying of-the filler tobacco while onthe screens toreduce moisture-content; Figure .3. is a sectional. sideelevation of a suitable tobacco storage chamber into which the stackedscreens are deposited for a period: sufiicient. to allow maturing. ormarriage of the stacked-contacting screen 'upported layers ofer-tobacco; I- l Fli uredis an isometric viewillustrating asuitable-device for;- removal of an orderly and :undis. turbed layero-f.filler tobacco from a plate,'such as; a cardboard .onto'a .feed belt,and a device for cutting strips from the advancing end of the layer oftobacco on the feed belt and depositing the same ina channel orcross-feed of a cigar machine;

'Figure is a sectional end elevation of Figure 4 taken on line 5-5; anda Figure 6 is a sectional side elevation taken on line 6-6 ofFigure 5,illustrating an operating means of said device. l i "If desired, fillertobacco may be placed on screens by hand or any other suitable manner.According to a preferred form of my invention selected for purposes ofillustration, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, stemmed and cleanedfiller tobacco, such as leaves, may be spread in orderly fashion uponreceiving surfaces such as screens Sor other suitable trays by means ofa delivery device M of a filler stripping machine such as the typedisclosed in my prior Patent No.

2,250,502, issued July 29; 1941.

Screens S preferably are made in the usual manner, and are provided withcord or other suitable netting of broad mesh, which acts as the tobaccoreceiving and supporting portion thereof. In the case of long filler,ormixtures of long and short filler in forming each layer L, the leavesor strips can be laid one on top of another across ascreen to anydesired thickness, or strips can be laid with a plurality of leavesacross each, transverse line, as shown in A in Figure 1, or a singlestemmed leaf to a transverse line, as shown at P in Figure 4.

Obviously any desired tobacco arrangement as to width, length andthickness can be followed according to the requirements of a particularmanufacturer in accordance with the size of stemmed leaf, or portion,and the amount of time considered desirable for drying. For convenienceeach layer L formed will besubstantially the same as to length, widthand thickness. Each layer loaded screen S is placed on a screen or trayconveyor B and travelled beneath the delivery device M, referred tohereinabove. In order to effect rapid handling of the layer supportingscreens S, a suitable conveyance, such asa truck, may be placed adjacentthe end of the conveyor belt B and the screens S stacked thereon (asshown in Figure 1). Suitable frames or spacers C, which have dimensioncorresponding with the i frames of screens S, are placed between theframes of adjacent screens S in order to provide air spaces between eachlayer of leaves L on each screen S and assure passage of air through thescreens andin and. around the tobacco thereon while in the drying orconditioning chamber D.

' The loaded screens S containing orderly, substantially uniform layersL of cleaned, stemmed tobacco and spacers C are stacked alternately oneupon another on trucks T which can bewheeled through an entrance into asuitable drying chamber D (such as shown in Figure 2). The dryingchamber D is provided with the customary inlets I for heated and driedair, and outlets O for fumes and moisture or wet air given off by theleaves as a result of the drying treatment. If it is desired to have arelativel large amount of tobacco undergoing treatment at theone time,it

v is preferred to place a plurality of loaded trucks .T in the dryingchamber'D somewhat in the manner shown in Figure 2 so that after thetobacco closing the entrance andexit of the drying chainber. 1 Uponremoval from the conditioning chamber D, the stacked screens S withtheirconditioned tobacco layers L and screen separating spacers C aretransferred into a storage chamber F which may beof the general typeillustrated diagrammatically in Figure 3. This can consist of a room ofthe size necessary for the demands of any particular plant. Iflargequantities of tobacco are beinghandledit is preferred that thisroom be provided with an entrance 5 closed by any suitable type of door6 and. an exit (not shown) through whichmatured tobacco may be removedanddelivered to the cigar making floor or departments when and asdesired. In transferring the screen from the drying chamber D to thestorage chamber F, the screens are taken off the trucks T and restacked.In restacking the spacers C are removed and the screens rearranged insuch a manner that the filler tobacco constituting each layer L on ascreen S remains undisturbed and in orderly fashion with the layersseparated only by the netting of the screen. Since each screen is madeup preferably of cord netting of broad'mesh,

such as described hereinabove, the arrangement is such that each layerof tobacco is substantially in direct contact with adjoining layers oftobacco forming a particular stack (as shown in Figure 3) except for thetobacco immediately adi be mixed with thetobacco on the screens.Preferably a large number of screens containing lay:

ers of tobacco will be stacked and stored in storage chamber F, and thescreens will be so arranged that freshly conditioned tobacco can beplaced in the storage chamber F at one end through entrance S Jandmatured or married tobacco removed at the other end throughaisuitwellknown in the art such that due to the close contact between each layerof tobacco, natural chemical and physical processes take efiect in andabout and upon the tobacco with the result that substantially all thetobacco tends to take on a characteristic of uniformity insofar asaroma, flavor and taste are concerned. This has been recognized asa-particularly desirable condition from. the point of view of smokingarticles such as cigars, because of the fact that tobacco variesconsiderably. While some leaves may have the ci ars, opiate or board,either rigid or flexible of any suitable material, such as heavycardboard or wood, is taken from. a stack. in aiholder Rimmed upon alayer f leaves on the top screen 3. as at E in Figure 3. .The assemblyof ateE, layer L and screen Sis lifted manua ly, held firmly t getherand inverted whereupon the layer of tobacco is transferred inundisturbed and orderly condition onto plate E. The screen S, is removedtherefrom leaving the layerof tobacco L resting on the plate E. ScreensS are returned to the layer formers for reuse. The plates or boards; E,each of whichnow supports an undisturbed layer of tobacco, preferablyare formed into stacks of convenient height, placed on v a truck orother suitable conveyance (not shown) and transferred through the exitof chamber F to the cigar making floor where they' are delivered to themachines. Tobacco maybe fed manually from each plate, or if desired, oneor more plates can be loaded into a suitable feeding device or magazineattached to a cigar machine. These magazines are equipped with means forstripping or dropping each layer of tobacco L from its plate support orboard in substantially undisturbed and original orderly condition onto afeed conveyor which is operated in timed relation with the main feed ofa cigar machine. i y I Asillustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6, a suitablemagazine-for holding a plate E and means for striping the layer oftobacco leaves L therefrom onto a feed belt (Ill may'consistof a slideI2 which Slide t2 preferably is constituted as a frame equipped with apair of outwardly projecting side flanges l4 slidably supported byspaced L-shaped guide members It conveniently attached to the mainframeof. a cigar machine (not shown). A To the lower portion of eachguide member 16 is mounted a support bar i 8,. eachof which supports oneside of the layer loaded board E'when placed in slide l2, while: thefront edge of the board rests on a transverse plate 20 carried by slide[2. a ,Guide members l6 carry spacedshafts 22 and 23, shaft 22 mountinga pair of cable drums 24, and shaft 23 supporting idler pulleys 26.Around eachdrum 24 ,is wound an endless cable 28 looped about itsrespective idler pulley 26 with the lower lap thereof attached by meansof a suitable fastener30 (Figure 5) to a corresponding side flange14.0fslide I2. Thus by turning a hand crank 32 secured to drum shaft 22the slide l2'can be moved back andforth in the. guide channel formed bymembers l6. Members 16 also have secured thereto adjacent drums:26,-ascraper plate 34 active in stripping the-layer of tobacco -leaves L fromthe board E as the latter is advanced with slide [2 the direction ofarrow K by means of crank handleJ32 in the direction of the arrow "Y(Figure 4). 'A'pair of suitable lugs 36 fixed to the inner sides ofslide l2 imparts forward motion of v the slide to board E so thatit-moves on support-,

he board is shown in Fi ure. 5.. slide l2 reaches its most advanced;position, as indicated dotted l n s inFi ure ,1JhE.:IlQ 'QmDtYbQBJ-'pass s beyondthe ends of supp r n b rs l8 and drops by gravity upon asuitable chute 40, theend of which may be formed int a h pp r 42.constructed and arranged to receive one or mQle. empty boards which arestacked automatiflhlly as delivered down the chute 40. Aboard retain:ing door 44 normally held closed by means oi a latch 45, engaging a lug4-1 on door 44 'may be opened in any suitable manner as manually, and astackof emptyboards 'E can be transferred to a truck positioned toreceive them. The stack, of boards is-then brought back to the storagecha ns ber F for further use-in the, manner described hereinabove; Aftereach empty board has dropped out of slide I2, the latter is returned toboard receiving position in the magazine I :by means of handle crank.32, and is then ready :to receive a new board containing a layer ofconditioned and matured tobacco. r r

Feed-belt I 0 (Figures 4 and 5) maybe actuated automatically ormanually. In the illustrated embodiment, belt l0 runs. over amanuallydriven roller 46 and an idler roller 48 mountedon ashaft 50supported by suitable hearings in the cigar machine frame (not shown).The-drivingroller 46 may be mounted on a shaft 52 also mounted insuitable bearings (not shown); By turning the hand crank 54 fixed toshaftliz at the desired time, belt 1-0 is advanced to feed a tobaccolayer L resting on the-belt at rightangles to the longitudinalaxis ofthe tobacco leaves 0n:the beltruntil a strip of the layer projects overthe edge :of a suitable bridge 56, adjacent the cross feed of -the cigarmachine which may be of the samegeneral type as disclosed in Bronanderpatent, No. 1,740,- 571, issued December 24, 1929. When a strip oftobacco of a length sufiicient to form a bunch charge has .been advancedbeyond the limits of bridge '56 above the cross feed belt 60, a suitableknife 58, such as a hand cutter 58 is operated to cut: the protrudingstrip of tobacco layer which drops onto cross feed beltEil.

" In the embodiment selected for purposes of illustration, belt 6:0-runs over an idler roller 62 i advanced by'belt I0, serves the purposeof deter a mining-the amountof layer Lto be advanced per machine'cycleand limits the movement of the projecting'edge of the tobacco layers Lwhen adva'nced by feed belt H]. Plate 10' constitutes a part of theguide channel formed together with the cross feed belt, and the bridge56, the latter also serving as a ledge plate for cutter'58.

As mentioned hereinabove, the strip H of tobacco cut from the layer onfeed belt I 0 drops upon the cross feed belt 60 whereupon the latteris'advanced a certain distance in the direction of thearrow N (shown inFigure 4), after which belt I-il is again advanced and another strip Hcut from the layer L. It is preferred to so control the operation ofconveyors I 0 and "fill'that each strip H drops onto the cross feed belt60 and partly onto the strip of tobacco previously severed fromthe layerL.- By repeating this process a plurality of strips H are cut from thefeed belt, allowed to overlap each othenandform a series of shingled'oroverlapped lengthsoffiller tobacco with .the result that each charge cutcutter 12, the Havana retains substantiallyuits original position in thetuck forming endof the from the stream of shingled lengths H bycorrugated cutter 12 will have a mixture of the tip of the tobaccoleaves and other portions thereof. Provisions can be made to blendvarious types of tobacco in a layer Z prior to loading the magazine. Inpractice each layer of filler tobacco may consist of one or more typesof tobacco so that each layer can be termed a, layer of blended tobacco.For example, two or more types of Pennsylvania tobacco may be used. Itis customary in the trade to add some kind of blending tobacco after thematuring step so that an added flavor may be present in the smokingarticle ultimately produced. Such tobacco may be Havana, or Porto Ricoor possibly some other variety havillgkllOWll characteristics and in aquantity considered desirable by a manufacturer in maintaining thestandards of any particular brand. The point at which the blend is madecan be determined by a manufacturer according to his own requirements.As shown in Figure 4, desired quantities of Havana or any other type ofspecial blending tobacco can be associated with the main bulkof fillertobacco, as by laying upon or distributing the Havana upon the layer L,preferably at or near that portion which will. finally form the tuck orlighted end of a cigar. Each length H-cut from layer L and depositeduponbelt 60, will have its portion of blending tobacco properly located inthe stream of tobacco moving through the cross feed to the chargecutter. Obviously more or less blending tobacco may be distributed in alayer. Also, blending tobacco can be distributed along part or theentire length of any layer and not limited to the zone illustrated inFigure 4.

Each charge of predetermined length is cut from thecontinuous stream ofshingled tobacco lengths H by means of corrugated cutter 62 asabovementioned. A charge G is then lowered by a suitable platform '14and then pushed onto a suitable feeding table 16 or mechanism bymeans ofa plunger 18. The manner in which blending tobacco is distributed amonglayers of tobacco 1 will be controlled to some extent by the relativearrangement of the leaves, leafy end portions thereof or portions alone.In general, however,

it ispreferred to distribute blending tobacco such as Havana on eachlayer L either before its trans-- fer from its supporting screen to aboard E or Blending can be done facturer. The principal purpose is to sodistribute Havana blending tobacco as unifgrmly as possible thatsubstantially uniform quantities of Havana will be present in each cigarbunch charge formed. It is preferred to distribute the Havana on (thePennsylvania tobacco in such a way that in each charge formed from thestream H (Figuree) of overlapped cut-off portions on belt 60, theHavanawill be located at or adjacent the 1portion which becomes the tuckend of a cigar. As indicated in Figure 4 the location of chargeadvancing to the cigar making instrue mentalities.

The invention above described may be varied machine, the steps whichinclude forming orderly layers of stemmed leaves with the tips thereofextending generally'in the same direction and each layer approximatelythe same in length,

width and thickness, stacking said layers to forma column, includingseparating each of said layers forming said column, drying said stackedand separated layers, establishing substantial 0011-, tact relationshipbetween said stacked layers of leaves and storing the same to allownatural chemical and physical processes to take effect during suchstorage, establishinga second columnar and separated relationshipbetween said layers whilemaintaining the order and arrangement of eachleaf of a layer substantially undisturbed, and then removing each ofsaid layers of said column individually from said column.

the Havana is such that each portion thereof is a spaced substantiallyequidistant along the stream ll-Ilarldafter chargeshave been cuttherefrom by 2. The method of preparing and processing tobacco for usein an automatic feed of a cigar making instrumentality which comprisesforming orderly layers of filler tobacco leaves, each layer beingsubstantially the same in length, width and thickness, stacking saidlayers to form a column of layers including separating each layerforming said column, drying the filler tobacco in said column to removeexcess moisture, bringing said layers of said column into substantiallycontacting relationship and storing said contacting stantially theoriginal layer formation and arrangement during said drying and storing.

3.In a method of preparing and processing filler tobacco for use in anautomatic feed of a cigar machine, the steps which include formingorderly layers of filler tobacco, said layers being substantially thesame in length, width and thickness, removing excess moisture from saidtobacco of said layers while maintaining said layerformationsubstantially undisturbed, superimposing a plurality of layers of fillertobacco tion of said layers substantially the same as when originallyformed during suchstorage.

4. In a method of processing and preparing filler-tobacco for use inanautomatic feed of a i machine for making smoking articles, the stepswhich include forming orderly layers of filler tobacco substantiallyuniform in size. and thickness, superimposing a plurality oflayers withthe topof one layer in substantially contacting rela-..

tionship with the bottom of another, storing said superimposed layersfor a period of time sufficient to allow maturing and averaging of thecharacteristics ofsaid tobacco whereby to obtain substantial uniformityin taste, aroma and flavor,

and mai ntaining the layer formation substan tial ly unchanged duringthe entire handling ofsaid layers. A

5. The method of preparing tobacco for formation into smoking articlescomprising stemming' tobacco leaves, forming layers of stemmed leavessubstantially uniform in lengthand width, stacking a plurality of saidlayers to form a column, and separating each layer as formed intosaidstack, drying said stacked layers of leaves to remove excessmoisture, rearranging said layers of said column to establishsubstantialleaf contact betweenthetops andbottoms of said layers, storing saidrearranged column of layers for a period oftime suflicient to maturesaid tobacco and average the characteristics thereof, whereby toproducesubstantial uniformity of said tobacco, especially with respectto'taste, aroma and flavor, and then feeding each layer individuallyto-a machine-for making smoking articles.

6. The method of preparing tobacco which comprises stemming tobaccoleaves, forming layers of stemmedleaves of substantially uniform lengthand width, stacking a plurality of layers to form a column, separatingeach layer of said column, drying said stacked and separated layers tore-' duce the moisture content of said tobacco, rearranging said layersof said column andbringing the same into substantial" leaf contact,storing said column of substantially contacting layers of tobacco for aperiod of time sufficient to allow desirable chemical and physicalchanges whereby toobtain substantial uniformity in said tobacco beingprepared, especially as to taste, aroma'and" flavor, invertingeach layerafter such storage and again establishingseparated relationship betweensaid layersof said'column, andfeeding each layer still in substantiallythe sameai'rangement when first'formed automatically to-a machine formaking smokingarticles;

'7. The method of preparing tobacco which comprises stemming tobaccoleaves, forming lay: ers of-steinmed leaves of substantially uniformlength and width, stacking a plurality of layers to form acolumn,separating each layero'fsaid column, drying saidstacked and separatedlayers to reduce the moisture content of said: tobacco,

- rear-ranging said layer'sofsaid column an'd brin ing thesameinto-substantial leaf'contact, storingsaid column ofsubstantiallycontacting layersof tobacco for a period oftime sufficientto-allowdesirable chemical and physical changes whereby to obtainsubstantial uniformity in said tobacco being prepared, especially as totaste; aroma and flavor,- and again establishing separated relationshipbetween said layers of sai'd column upon termination of such storage,and-feeding each layer still in substantially the same arrangement whenfirst formed automatically to a machine'for making smoking articles.

8'. The method of preparing tobacco forformation into smoking: articleswhich comprises forming layersof filler tobaccoof substantially uniformlength and. width, stacking a plurality of layers to form a column,separating said-layers ofsaidcolumn, reducing the moisture content ofsaid tobacco in said layers, establishing substantially contactingrelationship between said layers of: tobacco, storingzsaid substantiallycontacting layers of tobacco for a time sufiicient to allow-desirablechemical and physical changes to beeff'ected in: said tobacco. wherebyto mature the same and. impart substantial uniformityin charactor tosaid. tobaccobeingtreated, inverting said. storedtobacco:layersindividuallywhile maintaining the order and arrangement of eachlayer substantiallyundisturbed, again establishing separatedrelationship between said layers: as they are inverted, and reformingsaid layers into a columnar arrangement, and feeding each layerindependently and successively for formation into smoking articles.

9. The method of preparing tobacco for formation into smoking articleswhich comprises disposing stemmed tobacco leaves'in orderly arrangementon foraminous leaf receiving members;

to formlayers of stemmed leavesof substantially uniform width andlength, associating a plurality.- of said members containing layers of.stemmed; leaves in a vertical'columnar arrangement, separating each ofsaid layers in said arrangement:

to allow passage of air relative-to said members" and layers, dryingsaid layers to reduce the.moi's-- ture content, rearranging said membersto allow the foraminous member supporting one layer to restupon the topof the layer therebeneath, star-1 ing said rearranged members to permit.permeation of the tobacco constituting each layer, placing a boardmember on top of each of said layers, inverting said layers with saidboard memberandi removing each foraminous member to leave each invertedlayer disposed on said board member.

10. The method of preparing tobacco-for formation into smoking articleswhich comprises disposing filler tobacco in orderly layers arrangementon filler supporting screens, said 121378131367:

ing substantially uniform in length and width,

drying each layer to remove excess. moisture therefrom, arranging saidscreens in columnar formation with the tobacco on one screensubstantially in engagement With the tobacco on all-1 other, maturingsaid tobacco while thus arranged for a period of time sufficient toaverage the char a'cteristics of the entire quantity of tobacco formingsaid layers, and then stripping each layer of tobacco in substantiallyits original condition as to length, width and thickness from itssupporting screen for feeding to mechanism for making smoking articles.I

11, Steps in the method of processing tobacco which comprise forminglayers of tobaccoonfo- ,raminous surfaces wherein each layer issubstantially uniform with respect to length and width,- stacking saidlayer loaded surfaces, drying and. maturing said stacked layers, placinga-layer sup porting member on top of each layer supported: on saidsurfaces, separately invertingeachof said surfaces together with said.tobacco layer thereon and said member removing each surface followingsaid inversion, and forming a stackof. layers.

with said layer covered members. a Y

12. In a method of processing tobaccolforpre- 1 paring the same for usein an automaticffeedof.

' age in orderto' obtain a cigar machine, the steps whichincludeforming, orderly layers of stemmed filler tobaccoleavea, said layersbeing approximately. the sameinrectilinear, extent and thickness,.stacking'saidilayers'i to form a column, separating eachlayer of saidcolumn from the one directly below and above,

aroma and taste.

13. Steps in the methodof preparingcigar filler tobacco whichcompriseassociating a pluralitypfi screens, each screen having thereon alayer of tobacco leaves in columnar arrangement, each screen beingseparated from the next by a spacer, drying said layers to reduce themoisture content of the tobacco leaves, removing said spacers andreassembling said screens with said layers of tobacco thereon, with thebottom tobacco of one layer engaging the top-tobacco of next, andstoring said reassembled screens for a period of time sufficient tomature the tobacco and establish substantial uniformity in aroma andtaste.

14. The method of blending tobacco which comprises forming a layer oftobaccojof substantially quadrilateral form in plan, depositing blendingtobacco in uniform quantities upon said layer along a line substantiallyparallel with the length of said layer to form a composite layer ofblended tobacco, and then cutting bunch charges from said compositeblended layer of filler tobacco, feeding said composite layer edgewise,and cutting measured lengths therefrom at substantial right anglesrelative to saidmajor axi to form bunch lengths, each of said lengthshaving superimposed thereon a predetermined quantity of blendingtobacco. l x

16. The method of blending tobacco and forming bunch charges therefromwhich comprises forming alayer of tobacco of substantially quadrilateralform in plan, said layer having a major axis and a minoraxis, depositingblending tobacco in substantially uniform quantities on said layerbetween the major axis and the longitudinal edge of said layer, therebyforming a, composite blended layer of filler tobacco, feeding saidcomposite layer edgewise, cutting measured lengths therefrom atsubstantial right angles relative to said major axis to form bunchlengths, each of said lengths having superimposed thereon apredetermined quantity of blending tobacco, advancing each cut length atright angles to the major axis of said layer, depositing each layer asout upon the length last out to form a shingled stream of cut lengths,and severing from said stream a bunch charge of blended tobacco.

17. The method of blending tobacco and-form- ,ing bunch chargestherefrom which comprises forming a layer of tobacco of substantiallyquadlength has been deposited thereon to form a shingled stream oflengths with each quantity of blending tobacco spaced substantiallyequidistantly therealong, and severing bunch charges from said streamforformation' into a smoking article having said blending tobaccopositioned therein at the tuck or lighted end.

18. The method of preparing and blending to- [bacco for use in anautomatic feed of a cigar machine which comprises, forming layers oftobacco of substantially regular linear dimensions and substantiallyuniform thickness, depositing blending tobacco in uniform quantities onsaid layer along a line substantially parallel with the length of saidlayer to constitute each layer a composite of blended tobaccsuperimposing a plurality of layers in spaced relation, removingmoisture from said layers, rearranging said layers by bringing the sameinto substantially contacting relationship and storing saidsubstantially contacting layers fora period of time sufiicientto averagethe characteristicsof the tobaccos forming said layers, maintaining thelayer formation substantially undisturbed during the handling thereof,feeding each layer edgewise to a cigar makin machine,

and cutting measured lengths therefrom for formation into bunch charges.l

19. The method of preparingand blending to bacco for use in an automaticfeed'of a cigarmak ing machine which comprises associating a pluralityof screens, in columnar arrangement, each screen loadedwith a layer ofblended tobacco, drying said layers of blended tobacco to reduce themoisture content thereof, rearranging said screens to bring said layersof blended tobacco into closely associated relationship, storing saidrearranged columnfor a period of time sufficient rilateral form in plan,said layer having a major axis and a min-or axis, depositing blending tobacco in substantially uniform quantities on said layer between themajor axis and the longitudinal edge of said layer, thereby forming acomposite blended layer of filler tobacco, feeding said composite layeredgewise, cutting measured lengths, therefrom at substantial rightangles relative to said major axis to form bunch lengths, each of saidlengths having superimposed thereon a predetermined quantity of blendingtobacco, advanc to mature said tobacco and establishsubstantialuniformity of aroma, taste and flavor, transferring each layer ofblended tobacco to a supporting, surface while maintaining the layerformation substantially undisturbed, feeding each layer edgewise, andcutting lengths of blended tobacco from said layer for delivery to saidmachine.

20. The method of preparing and blending tobacco for use in an automaticfeed of a cigar making machine which comprises associating a pluralityof screens, in columnar arrangement, each screen loaded with a layer ofblended tobacco, drying said layers of blended tobacco to reduce themoisture content thereof, rearranging said screens to bring said layersof blended tobacco into closely associated relationship, storing saidrearranged column for a period of time sufficient to mature said tobaccoand establish substantial uniformity of aroma, taste and flavor,

transferring each layer of blended tobacco to a supporting surface whilemaintaining the layer formation substantially undisturbed,distributing asuperior type of blending tobacco on said layer on said surface along aline substantially parallel with the length of said layer, feeding eachlayer edgewise, and cutting lengths of blended tobacco from said layerfor delivery to said machine.

21. Steps in the method of blending tobacco for use in an automatic feedof a cigar machine comprising forming layers of blended tobacco, saidlayers being substantially uniform in length and width, drying saidlayers to remov excess moisture, and storin said dried layers to maturethe tobacco in said layers and produc uniformity as to taste, aroma andflavor, distributing a special blending tobacco on each of said layersalong a. line paralleling the length of each layer to form a compositeblended layer, feeding each the tobacco in said layers and produce;u-ni-iorm-' ity as to taste, aroma and flavor, distributing specialblending tobacco on each of said layers alonga line paralleling thelength of each layer to form a composite blended layer, feeding eachcomposite blended layer edgewise to a cutter, and cutting lengths ofmeasured width from said layer with each length having superimposedthereon a limited quantity of said special blending tobacco. o

23. Steps in the method of forming blended cigars which consist indepositing upon a layer of treated filler tobacco, said layer being ofsubstantially quadrilateral forin in plan, a suitable quantity of aspecial blending tobacco, cutting measured lengths from said layer, eachlength having thereon a small quantity of said special blending tobacco,forming a slung-led streamof overlapped cut lengths with the specialblending tobacco spaced uniformly therealong, cutting bunch lengths fromsaid stream, and forming bunch charges from said bunch lengths whereineach charge contains said special blending to- 1 bacco in apredetermined position relative to the tuck or lighted end of theultimate product.

24. Steps in the method of forming blended cigars which comprisedistributing upon a layer of prepared filler tobacco a substantiallyuniform quantity of a special blending tobacco, said blending tobaccobeingplacedon said layer along a line substantially parallel with thelength of the layer and between the limits of the width of said layer,

cutting measured lengths from said layer at right angles to thelongitudinal axis thereof, witheach of said, lengths having a smallquantity of said special blending tobacco positioned betweenits ends,and forming a stream of overlapped lengths with the quantities ofspecial'blending,

tobacco spaced substantially lequidistantly therealong. 1

r 25. A composite layer of filler tobacco-suitable for forming aplurality of measured lengths for layer contains a substantially uniformquantity of said blending tobacco located at a predeter minedposltionthereon. 26. The method of making cigarbunch charges which comprisesforming a layer of filler tobacco of substantially quadrilateral form inplan with the major axes of each piece of filler tobacco extendinggenerally at right angle to the major axis of said layer, feedingsaid'layer edgewise, cutting measured lengths from the advancing edge ofsaid layer substantially ,at right angles to the major axis ofsaidlayer, displacing each length as'cut in a direction substantially atright angles to the path of movement of said layer, depositing eachlength as cut upon the displaced length last out to form a stream ofshingled cut lengths, and severing bunch charge lengths fromthe-advancing end of said stream of shing'lcd lengths. l

- RUPERT E. RUN ELL.

